Conveyer end connector and gap plate



Jan. 2, 1951 I s n- 2,536,961

CONVEYER END CONNECTOR AND GAP PLATE Filed March 28, 1949 20 M,INVENTOR.

Giana: T. SMITH Q T'TORNEV Patented Jan. 2, 1.951

CONVEYER END CONNECTOR 'AND GAP PLATE .George 1. .Smith, Lansing, Mich.,-'assignor to George T."Smith, Inc., Lansing, Micl1.,-.acorporation ofMichigan Application March 2s,1949,-rs riarnd-sas4o 3 Claims. (Cl.198--.-10'2) This invention relates to ':-.a counter assembly and moreparticularly to. a dual "sectionicounter having independently movableconveyor belts arranged on the upper surface of each section, especiallyadapted for use in connection with a checking out --system-such asdisclosed in my 'copending application No. 83,838, filed March 28,

In the above identified application a system for checking outmerchandise in a market of the self-serve type is'disclosed in which thepurchaser places articles selected on a conveyor to be sorted, checked,and priced. Several operating stations have been disclosed along thelength of the sectional counter and it is desirable to control theconveyor movement of one section independently of the other section.

It is an object of the present invention to provide two counter sectionswhich are arranged end to end, each provided with independentlycontrolled conveyors, and to provide a gap plate between the adjacentends of the counter sections which will fill the gap ordinarily presentbetween the arcuate sections of the meeting rollers over which theconveyor belt travels.

Another object of the invention is to unite the two counter sections bya bridge structure which forms the gap plate between the sections andwhich provides a smooth level area between the two moving sections sothat there may be an uninterrupted fiow of merchandise from one conveyorbelt to the other.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of two longitudinally extending countersections joined in end to end arrangement and showing one form of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 andFig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, I have shown a countercomprising two sections it) and 12 arranged end to end and each isprovided with a movable conveyor belt l4 and !5. The conveyor belt ofeach section extends the full. length of each. section and is drivenover pulleys I8 and 20 located at the opposite ends of the countersections. The central portion of the belt is supported against saggingby a plate 22 which=- is flanged at its opposite edges and is secured'tothe lateral edges of the counter sec- -tlons'; :the edges extendingvertical-1yabove the upper surface oI-the conveyor belt to serve as:guides.

It is important to :arrange the counter sections in close proximity.and. to have the conveyor belts "as-close together as possible, but dueto the 1311 :cuateasurfaces 'ofthe rollers, over "which the beltstravel, there iswagap between thebeltseotions. This is objectionablebecause articles, carried by the belt may become lodged therebetween.

This objectionable feature hasbeen overcome by the present invention inthe provision of a bridge over the gap which provides a smooth,substantially flush surface along the upper surface of the two adjacentconveyor belts.

The bridge comprises a transversely extending plate 24 which has itsopposite ends overlapping the adjacent ends of the two counter sectionsand. secured to each counter section. The plate 24 is substantiallyT-shaped in cross section, as at 25, with upturned ends overlapping thelateral edges of the adjacent counter sections and secured thereto byfastening means 26 such as bolts, screws, or the like. The plate 24 isof a width to overlie the top surfaces of the arcuate portions of theconveyor belts. The upper surface of the plate is lightly crowned toprovide an uninterrupted how of merchandise from one belt to the otherwith a minimum of resistance to passage. thereover. The crown enablesthe. merchandise passing thereover to be in contact therewithsubstantially along a line rather than over a flat surface, and thusreduces the friction opposing movement of the merchandise to insureuninterrupted flow.

The opposite edges of the plate 24 are thickened, as at 28. whichtogether with the rib 25, form a rigid transverse bridge between th twounited sections.

By uniting the separate counter sections in this manner and providingindividually controlled conveyors, variations in control of speed ispermitted without departing from any variation in flow of work over thecounters. This also permits the most efiicient arrangement of thecounters within the available floor space. The bridge is secured to theunited counters in such a manner that the belts are held in desiredalignment and there is no break or interruption between the separateconveyors.

It will be understood that various changes including the size, shape,and arrangement of parts 'may be made without departing from the spirit'of my invention and it is not my intention to limit its scope other thanby the terms of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A sectional counter assembly comprising, a first counter section, asecond counter section arranged end to end with said first section andin abutting relation thereto, a movable conveyor belt for each countersection extending substantially the full length of each sectionsupporting means for each belt to prevent sagging thereof, and astationary bridge plate overlapping the adjacent ends of said conveyorsections having a convex surface substantially flush with the uppersurface of said conveyor sections.

2. A sectional counter assembly comprising, a first counter section, asecond counter section arranged end to end with said first section andin abutting relation thereto, a movable conveyor belt for each countersection extending substantially the full length of each section, and atransversely extending bridge overlapping the adjacent ends of saidsections and secured to each section for uniting said sections into asingle counter unit, the central portion overlapping said conveyor beltsand having a convex upper surface substantially flush with the uppersurface of said conveyor sections.

3. A bridge for securing and overlapping a joint between two end to endcounter sections having conveyor belts on each of the upper surfaces ofthe counter sections comprising a plate of T-shaped cross sectional areahaving a crowned upper surface intermediate its ends, and flanged endportions constructed and arranged to be secured to each of the adjacentends of said counter sections.

GEORGE T. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 36,121 Wise Apr. 5, 18621,885,892 Bronander Nov. 1, 1932 2,338,359 Sharp Jan. 4, 1944 2,380,910Newton July 31, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 354,169 GreatBritain July 21, 1931 531,700 Great Britain Jan. 9, 1941 the same mayeon Certificate of Correction January 2, 1951 Patent No. 2,536,961

GEORGE T. SMITH that error appears in the printed specification of trequiring correction as follows:

e word convex insert upper;

and that the said Letters 1 d as corrected above, so that form to therecord of the case in the Patent Oflice.

d this 17th day of April, A. D. 1951.

It is hereby certified the above numbered peten Column 3, line 13, afterth attent should be rea Signed and se ale [SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

